The new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has announced a policy U-turn by saying he will back renewed SNP plans to impose a minimum price for alcohol.
Willie Rennie said the proposal, which his party opposed in the last parliament, is needed to fight Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with drink.
The minority SNP government failed to win over the opposition when the legislation came before MSPs last year. But with a new majority following last month’s election, ministers can push the law through without help from other parties.
Mr Rennie plans to seek the support of the party at the next Scottish Lib Dem conference.
He said, “Alcohol misuse continues to blight the whole of Scottish society, wrecking individual lives and harming families and communities. I believe that radical action is needed and will therefore support moves to introduce minimum unit pricing in Scotland.”
He added, “The UK Government has announced plans to ban below-cost selling of alcohol south of the border. This will not apply in Scotland. Instead, the majority SNP government plans to reintroduce a minimum pricing bill and I will work positively with ministers on this.”
Mr Rennie said, “There will be no quick fix to Scotland’s alcohol problem. Minimum pricing should be part of that action.”
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said, “I am delighted that the Lib Dems now see the importance of setting a minimum unit price for alcohol as part of a strategy to tackle Scotland’s relationship with drink.
“There is a growing consensus for such a policy, including from all four UK chief medical officers, the BMA, the police, the pub trade and some influential alcohol producers.
“I hope that other parties in parliament see the importance of such a step and back the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill, which will be included on our first legislative programme.”
In the previous proposals, the government wanted to set a 45p price per unit of alcohol.
Ms Sturgeon had said the effects of alcohol cost Scotland £3.5 billion a year and can make life “misery”.
Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood’s health committee last year that in the first year of such a policy there would be 50 fewer deaths, 1200 fewer hospital admissions, 400 fewer violent crimes and millions of pounds saved in healthcare.
But in November Labour, Tory and Lib Dem MSPs combined to defeat the plan in a 76-49 vote.
At the time, Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie said, “The SNP have failed to make the case for minimum pricing, which is why Liberal Democrats voted against it.”
The plan was backed by the two Green MSPs and one Labour MSP, the former health minister Malcolm Chisholm.